pikake

[ pee-kah-key ]

noun

1. a climbing vine, Jasminium sambac, of the olive family, probably of Asian origin, having fragrant white flowers used to flavor jasmine tea and, in Hawaii, to make leis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pikake¹

1935–40; < Hawaiian pīkake literally, peacock, allegedly a name given to the plant by the Hawaiian princess Kaʾiu-lani (1875–99)

Example Sentences

Traditional looped lei made of orchids, plumeria, carnations and pikake are also popular.

From Reuters

Something I will always remember about this place, the house where where we live now in Frogtown, is that we have a pikake plant right on our porch outside, and every year it flowers these incredible-smelling flowers.

From Los Angeles Times

Then, the Trumps threw large white pikake flower petals into the waters below, peering down as they drifted away.

From Washington Post

Last week, however, a Southern Democrat set Hawaii's hopes to blooming like the white-petaled pikake.

From Time Magazine Archive

In 1929 nearly 22,000 people sailed four days and a half across 2,000 miles of Pacific Ocean to see Hawaii's famed hedges of night-blooming cereus, to lie lazily on its beaches, explore its volcanoes, taste its papaias and mangos, smell its fragrant pikake blossoms, listen to its ukuleles.

From Time Magazine Archive